Latitude59 expands African footprint with Kenya, Uganda and Zambia startup events

Estonia-born startup and technology platform Latitude59 is expanding its presence in Africa, with events planned in Kenya, Uganda and Zambia later this year.

The move seeks to strengthen links between African entrepreneurs, international investors and global technology markets.

The platform will return to Nairobi for the fourth consecutive year on December 3–4, 2026, for the Latitude59 Kenya Edition, bringing together startup founders, investors and technology companies seeking partnerships, investment and opportunities for international expansion.

Organisers expect attendance to match last year's approximately 2,000 participants, including an anticipated 600 investors from Africa, Europe, the Nordic countries and Asia.

The Kenya conference will be preceded by events in Uganda and Zambia, marking Latitude59's first initiatives in the two countries.

The pre-events are intended to engage local startup communities and strengthen connections between entrepreneurial ecosystems across the continent.

Latitude59 chief executive officer Liisi Org said the organisation was building international connections to help entrepreneurs, investors and innovation communities access opportunities beyond their home markets.

“Rooted in Estonia, Latitude59 is building bridges between countries, continents, and startup ecosystems. Today, we connect startup communities across the Nordics, Europe, Africa, and Asia,” Org said.

She added that the organisation's international initiatives were driven by a desire to share Estonia's experience in building a successful startup ecosystem while connecting innovators, entrepreneurs and investors to support the emergence of new global businesses.

Latitude59's expansion comes as it continues to develop its international network beyond its home market. Its flagship conference in Tallinn, Estonia, attracted more than 3,000 participants from over 70 countries during its 14th edition in May this year. The gathering included 800 startup representatives and 60 investors.

The organisation is also strengthening its presence in Asia, where it will host the Singapore x New Nordics Night of Innovation & Investment on October 28, alongside the SWITCH technology and innovation conference.

The event will connect startup and investment communities from Northern Europe, Singapore and Southeast Asia, creating opportunities for cross-border partnerships and investment.

Org said Singapore's growing technology ecosystem made it an important market for international collaboration, particularly in deep technology and knowledge-intensive businesses.

“Singapore has made remarkable progress in developing its knowledge-intensive and high-tech startup ecosystem. Today, the country is home to more than 1,200 deep tech startups and has become a major hub for international investors,” she said.

Latitude59 expects more than 100 delegates from nine Nordic countries to attend the Singapore gathering, where organisers aim to connect them with investors and businesses from Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region.

The event is being organised in collaboration with the Embassy of Estonia in Singapore, Nordic Singapore Innovation Days and the Swedish Energy Agency as an official side event of SWITCH.

Founded in Estonia, Latitude59 positions itself as a global platform connecting startup founders, investors and ecosystem builders. In addition to its flagship Tallinn conference, it has previously held events in Singapore, Kenya and South Africa's Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Its expanding programme reflects an effort to link emerging and established startup markets, enabling entrepreneurs to access international networks, explore new markets and attract investment.

For African startups, the upcoming Kenya conference and the new engagements in Uganda and Zambia are expected to provide additional opportunities to connect with investors and technology companies operating across different regions.

Through these events, Latitude59 is seeking to strengthen cooperation between startup ecosystems and create pathways for businesses to scale beyond national borders.